Self-sharpening safety razor



y 3, 1952 B. M. EWING SELF-SHARPENING SAFETY RAZOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Aug.13, 1948 July 8, 1952 a. M. EWING SELF-SHARPENING SAFETY RAZOR FiledAug. 13, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented July 8, 1952 2,602,220SELF-SHARPENING SAFETY RAZOR Benton Montgomery Ewing,

Self- Sharpening Razor Oomassignor to Ewing Farmingdal e, N. Y.,

pany, Pasadena, Calif., a'oorporation of California Application August13, 1948, Serial No. 44,065

15 Claims.

This invention relates to razors and more particularly to aself-sharpening safety razor.

An object of the invention is to eliminate the need for constantreplacement of blades in a device of the safety razor type by providingmeans whereby opposite faces of the blade edge may be sharpened at willand which, after the sharpening operationyrnay be positionedin suchrelationship to the edge of the blade as to function as a guard duringthe shaving operation."

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the sharpening meansin conjunction with the blade that a uniform honing action across theentire face of each side of the blade is obtained during the sharpeningoperation. An important feature in conjunction with this phase of theinvention resides in the manner in which the blade edge is urgedyieldingly under uniform pressure against the surface of the honing orsharpening element during the sharpening operation, the pressure beingequal during the sharpening of each side of the blade to thus insureuniformity of edge.

Still another important feature of the invention resides in the'mannerin which the honing element is formed toprovide an even-wiping actionagainst the surface of the blade as the honing surface moves across itlongitudinally and transversely at a uniform speed, going from one sideof the blade to the other consecutively as each face of the blade issharpened. This precludes the possibility of uneven edging ofthe bladedue to variations in the surface of the honing element contacting theblade edge.

Still another important object of the invention is to associate thevarious component elements of the composite razor in such manner thatthey may be easily assembled and disassembled, providing a minimumnumberof'parts and encompassing them all within a minimum space. 1

Still another object of the invention is to lengthen the life of thesharpening element or honing surface to the point where the same willprovide an efficient and accurate blade contact surface for anindefinite period of time without any reduction in the effectiveness ofits sharpening function.

Still another object of the invention is to so associate the honingelement with the blade that movement of the elementacross the blade isat all times in a direction away from the blade edge and never towardthe opposite edge of the blade along which the same is mounted inthe-holder. This facilitates accurate ingof the edge as well as smoothoperation of the sharpening device itself.

Various other objectshand meritorious features of the invention will beapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theand uniform sharpendrawings, wherein like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several figures, and wherein: Fig. 1 is a plan view of apreferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a front elevation; Fig. 4is a section along 4-4 of Fig. 3; -Fig. 5 is a section along 5-5 of Fig.1 illustrating .the action of the sharpening element;

Fig. 6 is a section through 6-45 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form;

Fig. 8' Ba side elevation of the form illustrated inFig.7; 1

Fig. 9 is a front elevation thereof, and i Fig. 10 is a section throughIll-l0 of Fig. 9. Referring'now to Figs. 1'-6' representing thepreferred embodiment of the invention, the razor comprises a handle H!which may be corrugated or fluted as illustrated to facilitate manualgripping thereof, together with an arcuate throat por- 2 tion l2terminating in a head broadly designated by the numeral l4 andconsisting preferably of end walls [6 and I8 joined by an arcuate member20 forming top, rear and bottom walls.

Pivoted between the end walls l6 and I8 by means of shaft 22 which ispreferably press-fitted in openings provided in the end walls is a bladeholder 24, between the lips 26 and 28 of which one edge of a blade 25 issecured. Securement of the blade between the lips of the holder may beby means of a friction fit, thus facilitating replacement of the bladein the event that such replacement became desirable, or the blade may besecured between 30.

The blade flatted as indicated at 32 intermediate its ends and againstthis flatted portion 32 of the holder one end 34 of a spring leaf 36 isadapted to'bear. The other end of spring leaf 36 is secured to theunder'face of throat I2 by means of ascrewr38 passing through an openingin the spring'end' and threaded into the body of the throat. .Theunderside of the throat I2 is somewhat enlarged as indicated at 4|] inFig. 4 for reception of the threaded end of screw 38 and to crum aboutwhich the spring 36 may rock. A coil spring 42 surrounds screw 38 andseats at one end against its head and at the other against the springleaf 36, thus tending to maintain the spring in a normal or neutralposition.

Rotatably mounted between side walls l6 and I 8 by means of apin 44extending through open ings therein in a sharpening element 46comprising a solid roller composed entirely of aluminum slotted axiallyas indicated at 41 on one side of its axis of rotation about the pin 44.A ridge 48 one end of the spiral lying at one end of one side of vtheaxial slot and the other end of the spiral the lips by means of rivetsholder 24 mounted on shaft 22. is-

provide a ful-- acoaeo 3 lying at the'other end of the other'side' ofslot, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.-

The surface opening of slot 41 comprises but a small portion of thecylindrical surface of the roller. However, the base of the slottedportion is cut back arcuately under the surface of the the roller oneach side of the axis of rotation as indicated at 50 and 52 for reasonswhich will be described more clearly hereinafter.

The fiatted surface 32 at the rear of blade holder 24 is such that itlies in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of roller 46 when thepivotally mounted blade lies in a plane which is substantially radialwith reference to the axis 44 of roller rotation. The outer end 34 ofleaf spring 35 which bears against this flatted surface tendsnormally toretain the blade in that position, but is yieldable on pivotal movementof the blade in either direction to permit such pivotal movement againstthe bias of the spring leaf.

At one end of roller 4t and adjacent the axial passage through which pin44 extends is an opening 54 which forms a seat for'the extremity 56 ofpin 44 which is offset or .reversely curved upon itself as indicated at58. A manipulating'knob Si is soldered or otherwise secured to theopposite end of pin 44 and the axial play of the pin in side walls [6and I8 is such that the offset or reversely turned end 56 maybe moved inand out of seat 54 in the end of the roller when such seat is inalignment with a correspondingly sized opening in wall [8 of the razorhead.

Whenthe pin 44 has been'moved to one ex: tremity of its permissiblemovement, which is determined by the limiting stop formed by the knobBathe offset end 56 of the pin does not engage the roller and the rolleris free to rotate. On movement. of the pin to its other extreme ofmovement, after the roller has been set in a position to align the seat54 with the opening in side Wall [8, the roller is held against,rotation.

The, seat 54 in roller 46 is so located that when pin44is moVed axiallyto seat the offset end 55 and hold the roller against rotation, theblade 25. is supported by the inner edge or lip of slot 47, the actualcutting edge of the blade extending slightlybeyond the margin of thelipas clearly indicated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Thus the lip of the rollerslot functions as a seat for the blade and as a guide during the shavingoperation. If desired the lip upon which the blade isjsupported in thisposition might be provided with a series of spaced protrusions acrossits entire margin to function as. a conventional guard against thepossibility of cutting the skin during the shaving operation. 7

When the knob 6t ispushed in to movev the pin 44 in such manneryas tofree the roller for rotation, the blade may be readily sharpened byrunning the roller back and forth across a flat surface suchas the handa distance sufficient to cause several rotations of the roller in eachdirection. The sharpening action is most clearly illustrated in Fig.wherein thepositio'nthe blade assumes during? rotation in each directionis shown. In one direction of rotation one face of the blade edge issharpened and in the other direction of rotation the other face 'of theblade edge is sharpened.

When the trailing edgeof slot 47 on either direction of rotation passesoff the edge of the blade, the bias of spring 36 tends tosnap the bladeback into radial position where itis' ready for contact with the leadingedge of slot 41 on continued rotation of the sharpening roller. As

a matter of fact, the leading edge of the roller during rotation ineither direction will catch the blade before it has had sufficient timeto snap entirely b ack to its normal radial position. The tendency tonormally assume a radial position, together with the arcuate rollercutbacks 5b and 552, permits a relationship between sharpening rollerand razor blade such that the leading edge of the roller duringsharpening never moves upwardly across the blade from the edge towardthe .blade holder. On each contact of the leading edge of slot 47 duringthe sharpening operation the movement of such edge, on contact with theblade, is outwardly toward the edge of the blade being sharpened.v Thisgreatly facilitates the sharpening action and insures against obtaininga feathered edge by virtue of a honing action in two directions alongthe blade during rotation of the sharpening roller in a singledirection. 7 v

Sharpening rollers per se are not novel, but the roller constituting aportion of my invention is considerably improved in a number ofrespects. In the first place, I utilize the known self-oxidizing actionof aluminum and take advantage of the fact that the oxidized surface ofaluminum constitutes a highly effective. abrasive by providing a solidroller composed entirely of aluminum and having a spiral ridge 48'whichis adapted to sweep across the cutting edge of the blade during rotationof the roller, the direction of sweep depending upon the direction ofroller rotation. Inasmuch as only the width of the spiral ridge 48 is incontact with the blade edge during the sharpening action, the sharpeningaction is uniform across the entire width of the bladej There is nopossibility of lack of uniformity in the honing action by reason of anyaccidental off set of the roller in its bearings or in the surface ofthe roller itself. The contact of thespiral ridge at each and everypoint of the blade edge is" side walls 68 and 70, the arms andsupportedside walls constituting the head of the razor. A sharpening roller 12like that already described is journaled betweengthe side walls of thehead upon a pin similar to pin 44 and means simi lar to that alreadydescribed is provided for looking the roller in shaving position orpermitting free rotation thereof for sharpening purposes.

In this form the blade holder 15 is seated upon a pin 78 which projectsbeyond the end of the holder at each end, the protruding ends of the pinbeing adapted to seat in transversely aligned semi-circularbearings ornotches 80 at the rear margins of the side walls and held in seated position therein by means of the bias of a spring 82, the flat end ofwhich bearsagainst a flatted portion 84 on the rear face of blade holder16. This fiatted portion maybe obtained by cutting away aportion oftherear face of the blade holder centrally thereof. The end of spring,82 which bears against the fiatted portion ,of the blade holder isprovided with an elongated opening 83 through whicha pin 85extendingaway from the fiatted or hearing portion of the'blade holderextends, thus limiting pivotal movement cate the spring and blade holderaccurately with spring 82 and at 'flatted surface 84 of the blade holderand in this position locate the blade normally in a positionsubstantially radial with reference to the roller, as described inconjunction with the otherembodiment.

By reasonof the spiral ridge on the surface of the sharpening roller,the abrasive moves-both transversely and longitudinally of the razoredge during honing or sharpening, the two components being in about a50-50 ratio. The peripheral speed of the abrasive is increased, animportant factor where a desirably light contact pressure is exerted onthe blade.

The oxide abrasive film of the aluminum is constantly renewing itselfafter breaking down during the honing operation, an advantage inherentin the use of aluminum as an abrasive.

Arcuate cutbacks 50 and 52 in the roller provide clearance for the edgeof the blade during its ivotal movement caused by rotation of theroller.

The slot 41 for that reason need not be so wide as if the walls thereofwere radial of the roller. This feature permits use of a maximum of thecylindrical surface of the roller for sharpening purposes.

While I have described certain preferred embodiments of the invention,various modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art andfor that-reason I wish to be limited only within the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, a shaftslidably mounted in said head and a sharpening roller rotatablyjournaled I thereon, said roller being longitudinally slotted forreception of the cutting edge ofthe blade, and yieldable meanspositioning said blade for sliding movement of the edge over the rollersurface on rotation of the latter,

means on said shaft cooperating with said roller whereby slidingmovement of the shaft locks the roller against rotation in one positionand frees it for rotation in the other.

2. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, asharpening roller rotatably mounted in the head, said roller beinglongitudinally slotted for reception of the cutting edge of the blade,yieldable means normally positioning the blade in a plane substantiallyradial with respect to the roller when the blade lies freely within theslot, adjustable means secured to said head and cooperating with saidyieldable means to position the same and vary its bias upon the bladeholder, and releasable means for securing the roller against rotation tolocate the blade edge in shaving position against the tension of saidyieldable means.

3. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, an aluminumroller rotatably mounted in the head, said roller being longitudinallyslotted for reception of the roller rotatably mounted I tudinallyslotted for reception of the cutting edge cutting edge of the blade,yieldable means nor-w mally positioning the blade in a plane substantially radial with respect to the roller when the blade lies freelywithin the slot, adjustable means secured to said head and cooperatingwith said yieldable means to position the same and vary its bias uponthe blade holder, and releasable means for securing the roller againstrotation to locate the blade edge in shaving position against thetension of .said yieldable means.

4. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, asharpening in the head and longiof the blade, said roller having aspiral surface ridge extending from one end of oneslot margin to theother end of the opposite slot margin, yieldable means normallypositioning the blade in a plane substantially radial with respect tothe roller when the blade lies freely within the slot; adjustable meanssecured to said head and cooperating With saidyieldable means toposition the same and vary its bias upon the blade holder, andreleasable means for securing the roller against rotation to locatetheblade edge in shaving position against the tension of said yieldablemeans. I

5. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, a shaftslidably mounted in said head, a sharpening roller rotatably journaledon the shaft and longitudinally slotted for reception of the cuttingedge of the blade, means on said shaft cooperating with said rollerwhereby sliding movement of the shaft locks the roller against rotationin one position and frees it for rotation in the other, yieldable meansnormally positioning the blade in a plane substantially radial withrespect to the rollerwhen the blade lies freely within the slot,adjustable means secured to said head and cooperating with saidyieldable means to position the same and vary itsbias upon the bladeholder, and releasable means for securing the roller against rotation tolocate the blade edge in shaving position against the tension of saidyieldable means.

-6. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, a sharpeneing roller rotatably mounted in the head and longitudinally slotted forreception of the cutting edge of the blade, the base portion of saidslot being cut back arcuately on each side, yieldable means normallypositioning the blade in a plane substantially radial with respect tothe roller when the blade lies freely within the slot, adjustable meanssecured to said head and cooperatingwith said yieldable means toposition the same and vary its bias upon the blade holder, andreleasable means for securing the roller against rotation to locate theblade edge in shaving position against the tension of said yieldablemeans.

7. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, asharpening roller rotatably mounted'in the head, said roller beinglongitudinally slotted for reception of the cutting edgeof the blade,yieldable means normally positioning the blade in a plane substantiallyradial with respect to the the same and vary its bias upon the bladeholder, releasable means mounted in said head and cooperating with therollerto secure the same agai st rotation and locatefthe blade edge inshaving position against the tension of said yieldable 'ineans, andmeans for adjusting the tension of the yield'able blade positioningmeans.

'8. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, 9;sharpening roller rotatably mounted in the head, said roller beinglongitudinally slotted fdr reception of the'cutting edge of the blade,yieldable means normally positioning the blade in a plane substantiallyradial with respect to theroller when theblade lies freely within theslot, adjustable rheans secured to said head and cooperating with saidyieldable means to pds'ition the same and ary its bias upon the bladeholder, releasable means for securing the roller against rotationtolocate the blade edge in shaving position against the tension of saidyieldable n'ieans, and yieldable means arranged to retain the bladeholder firmly journaled in its pivotal bearing.

9. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, a sharpening roller rotatably mounted in the head, said roller beinglongitudinally slotted for reception of the cuttingedge of the blade,yieldable means engageable with said holder, on opposite sides of and atpoints substantially equidistant from its pivotal axis, said yieldablemeans being operable to position the blade when not in contact with theroller ina plane passing within the com fines of the outer surface ofsaid roller. I

lO The arrangement described in claim 9 wherein the sharpening rollerhas a spiral surface ridge extending from end of one slot inargin to theother end of the opposite slot margin.

11. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivoted on said head and containing a blade having a shavingedge, a sharpening roller jo'urnaled in said head and. longitudinallyslotted for reception of the shaving edge of said blade, combinedtensioning and positioning means engaging a portion on said blade holderon opposite sides of and at points substantially equidistant from itspivotal axis, said combined means being yieldable and operable toposition the blade when not in con-'- tact with the roller in a planepassing within the confines of the outer surface of said roller and tooffer substantially equal resistance to, deflection of said blade holderto either side of said plane, said means being untensioned when theblade lies iii-said plane 1 2. A self -sharpening safety razorconipris'ing'a handle, a head, a'blade holder pivotally mounted in thehead'andcontaining a blade, a sharpening roller rotatably mounted in thehead, said roller being longitudinally slotted for reception of thecutting edge of the blade, yieldable means normany positioning the bladein a plane substantially ra'dial with respect to the roller when theblade lies freely within the slot, said yieldable means being socorrelated with the blade holder as to oiiers'ubs'tantially equalresistance to swinging movement of the blade in either direction awayfrom said radial plane, and releasable means for "securing the rolleragainst 'rotatibn to locate the blade edge in shaving position againstthe tension of said yieldable means.

13. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in'the head and containing a blade, an aluminumroller rotatably mounted in the head; said roller being longitudinallyslotted for reception of the cutting edge of the blade, yieldable meansnormally positioning the blade in a plane substantially radial withrespect to the roller when the blade lies freely within the slot, saidyieldable means being so correlated with the blade holder as to offersubstantially equal resistance to swinging movement of the blade ineither direction away from said radial plane, and releasable means forsecuring the roller against rotation to locate the blade edge in shavingposition against the tensich of said yieldable means.

14-. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mount.- ed in the head and containing a blade, asharpening roller rotatably mounted in the head and longitudinallyslotted for reception of the cutting edge of the blade, said rollerhaving a spiral suriace ridge extending from one end of one slot marginto the other end of the opposite slot margin, yieldable means normallypositioning the blade in a planesubstantially radial with respect to theroller when the blade lies freely Within the slot, said yieldable meansbeing so correlated with the blade holder as to ofiersubstantially-equal resistanceto swinging movement of the blade ineither direc jon away from said radial plane, and releasable means forsecuring the roller against rotation to locate the blade edge in shavingposition against the tension of said yieldable nieans.

15 A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, asubstantially cylindricalsharpening roller composed entirely of aluminumrotatably mounted in the he ad and longitudinally slotted for receptionvof the cutting edge of the blade, the base portion of said slot beingout back arcuately on each side, yieldable'r'neans normallypositioningthe blade in a plane substantially radial with respect to theroller when the blade lies freely within the slot, said yieldable meansbeing so correlated with the blade holder. as to offer substantiallyequal resistance to swinging movement of the blade in either directionaway from said radial plane, and

releasable means for securing the roller against rotation to locate theblade edge in shaving position against the tensionofsaid yieldablemeans.

BENTON MONTGOMERY EWING. 7 REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS lilumber,

h t t Name ;;Date 801,768 Cole l Oct. 10,1905 814,671 Gould Dec. 24,1907 1,96 ,426 flronson July 17, 1934 1,978,933 Cook Oct. 30, 19342,032,739 De Haven Mar. 3, 1936 2,112,042 Muller Mar. 22, 1938 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 27,145 Great Britain Feb. 18, 1904-

